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Lap of luxury
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle spent their first Christmas with baby Archie in a $14 million waterfront mansion on Vancouver Island in Canada, the Daily Mail reveals today.
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The property was listed by Sotheby’s in 2012 which said at the time that it had an 11,416-square-foot main house with five bedrooms and eight bathrooms, a 2,349-square-foot guest cottage with three beds and two baths, a formal dining room, a paneled office with fireplace, a large two-story living room opening to a chef’s kitchen with pizza oven, a game room with a wet bar, a media room, and a wine tasting room. Because, you know, who would want to live without a wine tasting room?
The Mail reports that they were joined on Christmas Day by Meghan’s mother Doria at the idyllic location, which boasts two private beaches and views across the peninsula.
The revelation of the splendor in which Meghan and Harry spent their Christmas is unlikely to do much to improve their image in the U.K.. The high-profile six-week sabbatical has done little to endear them to the public.
Home and away
The Sun reported this week that some royals had urged Harry and Meghan to return from overseas to spend Christmas in the U.K., following the hospitalization of Prince Philip.
“Even before the Duke became ill, many were at a loss as to why Harry and Meghan would miss what could be one of the last family Christmases with the Queen and Philip,” a source said.
“They are absolutely entitled to a proper break and privacy, but they’ve had six weeks off. What about some lovely family photos and memories with baby Archie?
“Many of the family were very keen to see him over Christmas, but were told they couldn’t as they were abroad.
“They’re in Canada to process everything—including whether they still want to be working royals. But they really should have thought about returning.”
Guest of honor
Princess Beatrice’s fiance Edo Mapelli Mozzi was the beneficiary of a last-minute exception to the rule that only married couples and members of the Royal Family can attend the three-day Christmas celebrations at Sandringham. His invitation meant he had just hours to pack the multiple outfit changes a day at the Norfolk estate requires, the Mail reports.
The only person to have previously attended Sandringham before marrying into the family was Meghan Markle, who accompanied Prince Harry in 2017. The Queen is said to have invited Mozzi to support Beatrice, who has been struggling to cope following her father Andrew’s public disgrace.
Harry and Meghan become a brand
Should we prepare for Meghan and Harry: The Magazine? Under the moniker, “Sussex Royal,” the name they use for their charitable foundation and Instagram account, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have trademarked hundreds of items, reported multiple outlets, including Metro. The trademarks encompass everything from clothes to magazines, fundraising, postcards, headbands, and textbooks.
Quite what the couple want to do with the trademarks remains to be seen. But together with their tradition-defying Christmas holiday plans, the trademarks suggest Harry and Meghan are doing things their way and taking their “brand” incredibly seriously and protectively. It also suggests that they feel their “brand” is under some risk of exploitation. Get ready for royal baseball caps in 2020.
This week in royal fashion
Princess Charlotte has become a royal show-stealer, and so it was at church on Christmas Day. Sure, mom Kate was wearing a beautiful gray coat, but it was Charlotte, with a bunch of flowers given to her by a young boy that she seemed resistant to passing to a bodyguard, and also in possession of a pink flamingo (given by another child), who owned the walkabout.
There are reports circulating today that her professionalism was at least in part down to some sensible preparation: Her dad, Prince William, took Charlotte and her brother George, 6, to the church before Christmas to familiarize them with its layout and explain about the well-wishers.
This week in royal history
Happy 9th birthday (Dec. 29) to Savannah Phillips, daughter of Peter and Autumn Phillips. Savannah is the granddaughter of Princess Anne, and first great-grandchild of the queen.
Unanswered questions
What will Meghan and Harry do when they return from holiday? After his hospitalization drama at Christmas, what’s next for Philip and the queen?
